Name:
Date:
Decision 2008: Portfolio Assignment
You are currently living through an indelible time in America’s political history. For the
first time since 1929 the presidential seat is wide open. Neither a sitting president nor vicepresident is running, creating unlimited opportunity for the candidates of both parties. The
issues are hard pressing. The economic state of the U.S., the War in Afghanistan and Iraq,
soaring oil prices, and healthcare concerns all require John McCain, the Republican candidate,
and Barack Obama, the democratic candidate, to develop new and innovative ways in solving
these issues in order to gain America’s support. Race and gender have played a role in this
election more than any other in the past. Barack Obama is the first African American to be a
major political party’s nominee for the presidential office and John McCain’s running mate,
Sarah Palin, is the first female Republican vice presidential nominee.
The Decision 2008 portfolio will help you to not only educate yourself on the
candidate’s and the issues, but understand the presidential political process. The objective of
the portfolio is for you to become educated on the parties’ platforms, candidate’s positions, the
role of the media, the presidential debates, and voting behavior so you too can make an
informed decision. Listed below are six activities that will require you to analyze and evaluate
various aspects of the candidate’s and their campaigns. Each portfolio entry is worth 20
points, totaling 100 points. All entries will be due on a Friday, no expectations! The specific
deadlines for each entry are outlined below.
Each Friday, we will begin our class discussing the election and that week’s portfolio
entry. It is expected that you be an active participant and listener in the discussions.
Portfolio Assignments

Entry / Topic
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
Slogans, Campaign Buttons, Yard Signs, and Bumper Stickers
Election Jargon Fictional Story
Platform Briefing: McCain, Obama, and You on the Issues
What’s New?: A Recap of Election Current Events
A Race to Watch: the Role of Technology in the Election Process
Presidential Debate Analysis
Date Due
Sept. 19th
Sept. 26th
Oct. 3rd
Oct. 10th
Oct. 17th
Oct. 24th
Score / 20
Portfolio Entry #1: Slogans, Campaign Buttons, Yard Signs, and Bumper Stickers
The use of campaign slogans has played a dominant role in Presidential elections for many years.
Campaign slogans help us understand what was going on in the country at the time of the election, what
promises were being made, and they serve as a character analysis for those involved.
Below are three presidential campaign slogans. Read each slogan and try to determine the president.
Hint: you have watched two [2] of the three [3] presidents in office!
Also indicate how the slogan reflects the current issues of the time period.
Slogan
President
How the Slogan Reflects the Time
Leave no child behind.
I like Ike.
It’s the economy, stupid.
On Your Own:
1. Come up with an ORIGINAL slogan for the Republican candidate or Democratic Candidate.
You choose.
Candidate:
Slogan:
2. Create a bumper sticker, draw a campaign button, OR design a yard sign for the candidate.
Brainstorm below.
Bumper
Sticker

Campaign
Button


Yard
Sign
3. Re-create your drawing on the front and/or back of your Portfolio Assignment Folder.
Use color and be creative!
Total Points Received:
/20
Portfolio Entry #2: Election Jargon Fictional Story
Assignment Overview ▪ listed below are terms that will be heard throughout the election. These terms
are referred to as jargon. Jargon is the special vocabulary that is used in a particular field. Your
assignment is to define the words and then create a fictional story using at least 20 of the words. The
terms, their definitions, and the fictional stories should be word processed to receive full credit.
Terms
Backburner
Battleground states (Swing states)
Demagogue
Electoral College
Fence sitting
Focus group
Front burner
GOP
Grass roots
Incumbent
Lame duck
Landslide
Political machine
Mudslinging
PAC
Photo op
Platform
Political suicide
Pundit
Special Interests
Spin
Super delegates
Swing vote
Whistle stop
Country club economics
527s
Assignment Checklist
 Typed terms and definitions for all 26 terms
 Typed fictional story that includes at least 20 of the 26 terms.
Humor and illustrations are appreciated!
Helpful Resources
 http://putrawangsa.com/election-jargon/
 www.dictionary.com
Total Points Received:
/20
Portfolio Entry #3: Platform Briefing: McCain, Obama, and You on the Issues
Assignment Overview ▪ on the chart provided, first record your views on the issues. Then go to the
Democratic National Committee’s Website (www.democrats.org) and the Republican National
Committee Website (www.rnc.org) to find out what the party platforms say about each issue. A third
site, www.ontheissues.org, will give you a clear and concise version of the platforms. Once you have
filled in the table, answer two follow-up questions:
1. What observations can you make about the information?
2. What conclusions can you draw from the information?
Assignment Checklist
 Completed graphic organizer detailing your views, Democratic views, and Republic views on
each of the 12 issues listed.
 Two, detailed paragraphs answering follow-up questions [one paragraph/question].
d
Helpful Resources
 www.democrats.org
 www.rnc.org
 www.ontheissues.org
Total Points Received:
/20
Name:
Date:
Your Views on the Issues vs. the 2008 Party Platforms
Issue
Abortion
Education
Energy & Oil
Environment
Free Trade
Global Warming
Your Views
Democratic Platform
Republican Platform
Gun Control
Healthcare
Immigration
Social Security
Taxes
The War
on Terror
Follow-up questions:
(*responses should be typed, 1 paragraph (4-6 sentences) response / question)
1. What observations can you make about the information?
2. What conclusions can you draw from the information?
Portfolio Entry #4: What’s New?: A Recap of Election Current Events
Assignment Overview ▪ Find a news article from a reputable source that highlights the election’s
current news. Write a one-page, comprehensive summary of the article that includes the five basic
questions of journalism (who, what, when, where, why). In your summary, you should exhibit your
understanding of the article and also add your own opinions and thoughts. I will be using the PSSA
writing domain scoring guide to grade your summary.
Assignment Checklist
 Length: 1 page summary that includes my own opinions and thoughts
 Technical Requirements: 12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced
 A copy of the article [must be attached to receive maximum credit]
Helpful Resources:
 http://crayon.net/using/links.html
Total Points Received:
/20
Portfolio Entry #5: A Race to Watch: the Role of Technology in the Election Process
Assignment Overview ▪ Using the internet, find one of the two candidate’s official presidential election
Website. Review the content of the site carefully and complete the card on the following page. Next,
read the article “The Web Era: Isn’t as New as You Think” by Michael Cornfield and Lee Rainie.
Complete the three reading questions following the article.
Assignment Checklist




Review content of candidate’s of choice website
Complete effectiveness chart
Read “The Web Era: Isn’t as New as You Think” article
Answer the three reading questions
Helpful Resources:
 www.barackobama.com
 www.johnmccain.com
Total Points Received:
/20
Name:
Date:
A Race to Watch: The Role of Technology in the Election Process
Directions
 Using the internet, log on to the candidate’s of your choice official webpage.
 Review the content and carefully answer each question below.
1. The candidate I chose to research is
2. Use the checklist below to make al of the features your candidate’s site contains:
 Candidate blog
 Videos
 Live chat options
 Opportunity for involvement in the campaign (volunteering, hosting an event)
 Biography/background
 Opportunity to contribute to campaign fund
 New releases/media
 Email: receive communication from/send to candidate
 Political issues/platform
 Other:
3. Comment on the effectiveness of each of the features contained on the candidate’s
website by completing the chart on the following page.
If the candidate does not have the feature, leave it blank.
Feature
Blog
Videos
Live Chat
What did the feature
teach you about the
candidate?
How would this feature
impact a voter’s decision
about whether or not to
support this candidate?
This feature was an
effective campaign tool,
yes or no?
Why?
Feature
Involvement
Bio/Background
Contribute
News/Media
Email
Issues/Platform
Other
What did the feature
teach you about the
candidate?
How would this feature
impact a voter’s decision
about whether or not to
support this candidate?
This feature was an
effective campaign tool,
yes or no?
Why?
Portfolio Entry #6: Presidential Debate Analysis
Assignment Overview ▪ holding a presidential election today without a television debate would seem
almost undemocratic. There are three presidential debates scheduled between Obama and McCain.
The dates, concentrations, and the locations of two are listed below. The assignment requires you to
watch one of the debates and fill out the two worksheets on the following pages. You then will compose
a paragraph explaining who you believe to be the winner of the debate and your rationale as to why.
Assignment Checklist




Watch one of the scheduled presidential debates
Complete Presidential Debate Ballot
Complete Question and Rebuttal Handout
Compose a detailed typed paragraph explaining your choice and reasoning for the winner.
[12 point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced]
Helpful Resources:
 September 26, 2008: Presidential debate with domestic policy focus
Location: University of Mississippi
 October 15, 2008: Presidential debate with foreign policy focus
Location: Hofstra University
Total Points Received:
/20
Name:
Date:
Presidential Debate Analysis: Question and Rebuttal
Record any four questions asked throughout the debate, the candidate’s answer
and the opponent’s rebuttal in the space provided.
Question #1:
Candidate:
Answer:
Candidate:
Answer:
Question #2:
Candidate:
Answer:
Candidate:
Answer:
Question #3:
Candidate:
Answer:
Candidate:
Answer:
Question #4:
Candidate:
Answer:
Candidate:
Answer: